Gov’t will not yield to demand of Labour - Mahama

Magdalene Teiko Larnyoh 17:04 - 22 September 2016

___5521274___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___5521274___2016___9___22___19___mahama

President Mahama who was speaking at an Africa-U.S business forum in the United States explained that labour usually demands a lot from the government of the day during election years. But he added that his government will not yield to their demands this time around.

President John Mahama has indicated that his government will not grant the incessant demands of labour within the election year.

President Mahama was speaking at an Africa-U.S business forum in the United States.

He explained that labour usually demands a lot from the government of the day during election years.

“We have a four-year term and anytime we are in an election year, there is pressure on government to open up the expenditure and so various professional groups are going on strike and are demanding more money and because we are in a sensitive period, government is compelled to yield to organized labour".

But President Mahama said he would not allow himself to be bullied by labour as Ghana prepares to go to the polls on December 7.

“...What we have tried to do is to even out our spending on socio-economic infrastructure and to set the principle that if it is not in the budget, we are not going to pay and so excessive demands by labour are not going to be listened to,” the President stated.

A number of labour agitations are have been happening since January 2016. The members of the Ghana Nurses and Midwives Trainee Association today (Thursday) hit the street over delays in the release of their allowances. The protest is also to get the government to address their concerns as trainee nurses.